When I awake, I’m alone in bed.
40
Lena
Seema: All okay, Lena? Haven’t heard from you in a while.
Josh: Lena?
Mira: Everything okay with you and Isaac?
Mom: Dinky, I’m sure whatever it is you’re dealing with it, just know we’re here if you need us.
Josh: Lenaaaa?
I blink away the tears in my eyes. My family has always been supportive, so why are their messages of encouragement making me feel so emotional? Also, what am I going to tell them? I’m fine, but am sleeping with Isaac’s father? And Isaac and I have broken up? And I have a feeling things are going to get more complicated? I hold my fingers poised over the phone screen, then click out of the group chat. Not ready for this yet. I’ll let them know what’s happening. Just… not yet.
I place my phone on the kitchen island, then pick up my cup of coffee. I take a sip of the dark liquid and glance out of the window, when a current of electricity runs up my spine. I hear the heavy tread of his feet a second later. He walks over to stand next to me. "Good morning," he rumbles.
My thighs clench.What is this crazy reaction to his nearness?This, after he fucked me three times last night. And then washed every inch of my body like he was memorizing it.
"'Morning," I murmur without looking at him.
He bends and presses a kiss to my temple. I flinch. I don’t mean to. It’s just such a casual gesture. Such an easy gesture. Such an unexpected gesture. My breath catches. I sense his muscles stiffen, but still don’t look at him.
"You okay?" he asks in a low voice.
I nod. "I’m good." I take another sip of the coffee.
“How’s your foot?”
“It’s fine. I pulled off the bandage and the cuts are already closing up.”
He glances down to where I’m wearing my ballet pumps. My foot is fine, but I don’t want to risk putting more pressure on it by wearing heels.
“You should keep your weight off it.”
“I’m fine. Really.” I stare straight ahead.
His gaze lights on my features, but he doesn’t speak. After a few seconds, he moves away. The tension drains from my muscles somewhat. I hear him move around the kitchen. He fills up the kettle and switches it on, then reaches for the shelf where I know the teabags are kept. The kettle begins to boil, and he pours water into his tea. I hear the clink of the spoon as he adds sugar to his cup, then his footsteps approach. He walks over to stand next to me again. We drink our individual brews in silence. Outside, the birds chirp. The trees are still. It’s still early, not even seven a.m.
I woke up to find myself surrounded by him and was so tempted to stay. But the last thing I wanted was to wake up next to him when I’d be seeing him in the office again in a few hours. And that’s complicated further by the fact that he’s my boss. Instead, I left his warm bed, and crept down the stairs to the room I shared with Isaac. Thankfully, he wasn’t there, and the glass had been swept away. I showered and dressed in my office clothes, then grabbed my phone and my handbag before walking to the kitchen.
"You should have slept in," JJ murmurs.
"And take advantage of the fact that I’m shagging my boss?" I press my lips together.
JJ raises his cup of tea to his lips. He doesn’t react to my words, and I do regret my outburst, but I was only saying what he was probably thinking anyway, right? It’s bad enough he’s my boyfriend’s father. He had to be my boss, too? Have I not only ruined my personal relationship with Isaac, but also sounded the death knell on my career? Did I get so carried away by my attraction to this guy that I risked everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve for my entire life?
"I can hear you thinking," he finally drawls.
I turn away, walk over to the island and place my cup of coffee on it. "Look, JJ, last night was fine but—"
"If you’re going to pretend it didn’t happen—"
"Oh, it did happen." I squeeze the edge of the counter. "And that’s the problem."
I hear his footsteps, then he pauses behind me. He places those big warm hands on my shoulders and kneads. "Breathe, girl, breathe."